South Korea and the United States held simulation drills in Washington this week to enhance nuclear deterrence cooperation, amid up stepped-up security coordination by the allies to counter evolving North Korean threats. 

 

Seoul’s defence ministry and the Pentagon said in a joint statement yesterday that the two nations held the first table top simulation, TTS of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) on Thursday and Friday. NCG is the key nuclear deterrence dialogue body of the allies, launched by Seoul and Washington in July last year. 

 

The allies’ deterrence efforts come amid Pyongyang’s increased efforts of doubling down on its nuclear and missile programmes. Concerns have also lingered that the recalcitrant regime could engage in provocative acts before the US presidential election in November.